Following a leak, Land Rover has opted to officially unveil its Freelander replacement.
Previewed by the Discovery Vision Concept, the Discovery Sport will take the place of the Freelander, slotting in below the larger Discovery.
Perhaps most surprisingly, the Disco Sport boasts a very sleek and urban exterior. The influence of vehicles such as the Range Rover Sport and Evoque are obvious. This is definitely more Range Rover than Defender, but were guessing that the vehicle will still boast an impressive amount of off-road ability. That said, were guessing that not too many buyers will take their vehicles off the beaten path. Land Rover states that it has 212mm of ground clearance, and can scale 45-degree inclines.
Unsurprisingly, the interior of the Disco Sport isn’t as plush and well equipped as that of the Evoque or Sport, but that doesn’t mean that it’s disappointing. The cabin looks good, offering a similar experience to that of the full-size Disco.
All the usual accouterments are present, including a large infotainment screen and steering-wheel controls. The Disco Sport even has a third row of seats, though these probably aren’t terribly roomy. Land Rover states that they are designed for “occasional usage”.
Two engine options were announced – a 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol and a 2.2 litre turbodiesel. The petrol mill will offer 179 kW, while the diesel will develop 139 kW. Both engines will be mated to either a six-speed manual or nine-speed auto transmission.
That’s about all the info that Land Rover has released, for now. We’ll have to wait to find out more technical details about the Disco Sport. We’ll also have to wait to find out exactly when, and in what form, the vehicle will be available in SA.